Sliced bacon folding and wrapping machine



Sept. 5, 1950 A. c. GANNON SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1947 INVEN TOR. ALF'EEYJ 6. 621mm,

A TT'OMK Sept. 5, 1950 A. c. GANNON 2,521,577

SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE ATTOEA H Sept. 5, 1950 A. c.GANNON SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJuly 2, 1947 W5 m u.

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SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1947 I I 6Sheets-Sheet 4 lll mm uu INVEN TOR. .HLFEED C. WON,

p 1950 A. c:. GANNON 2,521,577

SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1947 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill?" 50 I INVENTOR.

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Sept- 1950 V A. c. GANNON 2,521,577

SLICED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1947 6Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. 12cm? 6. @QMYQN,

HWY'QE/KEY Patented Sept. 5, 1950 SLIOED BACON FOLDING AND WRAPPINGMACHINE Alfred C. Gannon, Indianapolis, Ind, assignor to Kingan & Co.Incorporated, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of New JerseyApplication July 2, 1947, Serial No. 758,567

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for folding and wrappingsliced bacon, and the primary objects of the invention is to providemechanism which will automatically continuously receive, from a slicingstation, weighed quantities of sliced bacon, each batch of slices beingarranged in the familiar overlapping series upon a sheet of suitablewrapping paper or the like, and then proceed, without attention to foldthe projecting lateral edge portions of the sheet over the ends of thebacon slices, then fold a projecting end portion of the sheet over theuppermost few bacon slices of the series, then fold that section of thebatch remote from the last-mentioned portion of the paper intooverlapping relation with the central section of the batch, then foldthe remaining section of the batch into overlapping relation with thefirst-folded section, and then discharge the completed package. Numerousancillary objectives will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the feed end of a machine, constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the central portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a similar end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of substantially that section of the machineillustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of substantially that portion of the machineillustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 6-5 ofFig. 4. and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 'll ofFig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line9-9 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi 10 is a perspective view, upon an enlarged elevation of the dischargescale, of one of the carriages incorporat d 6 r machine, parts beingbroken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of such a carriage, bearing a batch of baconslices associated with a wrapper sheet;

Fig. I2 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional view showing the actionof the sheet-edge turning device;

Fig. 13 is a similar View, showing the sheet edge folder elements asthey begin to operate;

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the sheet edge folder elements infinal position;

Fig. '15 is a diagrammatic side elevation indicating the'action of thesheet end folding mechanism'; and

Figs. 16 to 20 illustrate successive steps in the final folding of thebacon package.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that Figs,1, 2 and 3 may be matched, end to' end, to constitute a complete sideelevation of the machine. Said machine comprises 'a frame upon which aresupported upper and lower pairs of trackways 3! and 32. Adjacent thefeed end of the machine, a pair of sprockets 33 is supported upon ashaft 33' suitably carried for rotation upon a transverse axis, and atthe discharge end of the machine, a corresponding pair of sprockets 3ais mounted upon a similar shaft 34. Near the sprockets 34, a platform 35is mounted upon the trackways 32 to support an electric motor 35connected, through a suitable flexible coupling .il, to the input shaftof a gear reduction unit 38 whose output spindle drives, through a chain39, is sprocket 39' fixed to the shaft 34'.

Likewise fixed to said shaft is a beveled gear 40 meshing with a beveledgear '4! carried at one end of a shaft A2 mounted in suitable bearings43 and A l in the machine frame. At its opposite end, the shaft 44'carries the input elements d5 of a toggle joint, indicated generally bythe reference numeral 56. The output elements 41 of said joint aresupported upon a shaft 48 mounted, for rotation and reciprocation, insuitable bearings t9 and 59 provided in the machine frame. Intermediateits ends, the shaft 48 carries a cylindrical reciprocating cam block 5|peripherally formed with a serpentine cam groove 52 in which engages aroller 53 mounted upon a stationary pillow block 54 suitably supportedupon the trackways 32. If desired, the pillow block may be adjustablymounted upon said trackways in order to vary the position of the block'5l.

A chain conveyor, indicated by the reference numeral 55, paSsesabout thesprockets 33 and 34 and is thereby led past the trackways 3i and 32.Mounted to travel with the conveyor is a series of carriages, indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 56, each carriage being provided, atits opposite sides, with ears 5? formed with guide slots 58 (see Fig.adapted to engage the trackways 3| and 32 to guide the movement of saidcarriages 56.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, each carriage 56 comprises acentral table 59 to the rearward or trailing edge of which is hinged, at61, a rear leaf 5%. The leaf as is formed to provide a proximal Sectionwhich is normally inclined downwardly and rearwardly from the surface ofthe table 59, and a distal section which is normally inclined upwardlyand rearwardly. A tray 92 is hinged, at B3, to the distal edge of theleaf to, and projects toward the table 59, being normally held in itsillustrated position by a pin 64 slidably extending through the leaf 60,and urged upwardly by a spring 65, one end of which is anchored to thelower end of the pin 64, and the other end of which is anchored to anabutment 68 on the leaf 69. A stop collar 64 on pin 64 limits movementthereof under the influence of Spring 85. Likewise hinged at B3 is aflap 61 which is normally inclined upwardly and rearwardly from thedistal edge of the leaf Bil. One or more springs 53 normally hold theflap 6'! in its illustrated position, being anchored between a pin 69 onthe flap and a pin 19 on the leaf 60.

Fixed to the lower surface of the flap 6'! is an arm l'l projectingdownwardly and forwardly from said flap, in the manner illustratedparticularly in Figs. 10 and 11, and carrying at its lower end a roller72. A second arm 13 is fixed to said flap and projects forwardlytherefrom at a more acute angle, the arm 13 being considerably longerthan the arm !2 and carrying, at its remote end, a roller '54.

An arm 15 projects substantially vertically downwardly, being anchoredto the leaf 60, and carries at its lower end a roller 16. A second armand that, when the tray 85 is unloaded, its edge adjacent said table isheld above the surface of said table by a plunger 95 guided in the leaf83 and urged upwardly by a spring 9'! anchored to the lower end of saidpin and to a fixed abutment on the leaf 83. A stop collar 96' on plunger96 limits movement thereof under the influence of spring 91. When theedge of said tray is thus held in its elevated position, the fingers 81act as an abutment adjacent the forward edge of the table 59.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11, an arm 89 attached to the distalportion of the leaf 83 projects downwardly and forwardly therefrom andcarries at its remote end a roller 98. A second arm 9|, fixed to theproximal section of said leaf, and somewhat longer than the arm 89,projects downwardly and forwardly at a less acute angle, and carries atits lower end a roller 92. A third arm 93, fixed to the distal portionof the leaf 83, projects forwardly and upwardly therefrom, and carriesat its remote end a roller 94. The functions and manner of operation ofthese arms and rollers will appear as the description proceeds. A spring95 is anchored to the leaf 83 and to the pin 82 to hold the leaf 83normally in the position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.

Adjacent the opposite sides of the trackways 3! I provide curved flanges98 and 99 (see Figs. 2, 4, '7 and 12). A bacon batch, indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral Hill in Fig. 11, comprises a sheetl9l of paper, glassine, cellophane, or other suitable wrapping material,upon which have been deposited in the overlapping series arrangement, aplurality of bacon strips indicated by the reference numeral I02. Thelowermost bacon strip is customarily placed closely adjacent the leadingedge of the wrapper sheet, with its ends substantially equally spacedfrom the transverse edges of 11 fixed to the leaf 59 is longer than thearm 15, 1

and projects more acutely forwardly therefrom, carrying at its remoteend a roller 18. A third arm 79, much longer than the arm 11 and, in thepositions of the parts illustrated in Fig. 11, projecting forwardly andslightly upwardly from its anchorage upon the leaf 65, carries at itsremote end a roller 36. A spring 8 l, anchored at one end to the leaf5E) and at its opposite end to a pin 82, normally holds the leaf 69 inits position shown in Fig. 11.

The functions of the various arms and rollers just described, and theirmanner of operation, will be made clear as the description proceeds.

A forward or leading leaf 83 is hinged at 84 to the leading edge of thetable 59; and the leaf 83 likewise comprises a proximal section which isnormally inclined downwardly and forwardly from the table, and a distalsection which is normally inclined upwardly and forwardly from thetable. A tray 85 is hinged at 86 to the distal edge of the leaf 83, andprojects therefrom generally toward the table 59. Depending from therearward edge of the tray 85, and transversely spaced along said edge,is a series of fingers 81, preferably curved upon a common areconcentric with the axis of the hinge E6, the lower ends of said fingersbeing adapted to extend through and be guided in, transverse slots 83(see Fig. 10) formed in the leaf 33. It will be clear from an inspectionof Figs. 11 and 20 that the fingers '87 are disposed closely adjacentthe forward edge of the table 59 upon the rods H0 and movement in theline of travel of the conveyor such sheet which project beyond thestrip, and successive strips of bacon are similarly arranged. Thetrailing edge portion IE4 of the sheet projects a substantial distancebeyond the uppermost bacon strip. Such a batch 402 will be placed uponeach carriage 55 in the region illustrated in Fig. 1; and the spring 9'!is of such strength that the weight of that portion of the batch whichis thrown upon the tray will depress said tray substantially into theplane of the table 59, the leading edge I93 of the batch beingsubstantially coincident with the distal edge of the leaf 83. As thecarriage bearing such a batch passes the station at which are positionedthe flanges 88 and 99, the projecting edges I05 and I05 of the sheet 10!are elevated by engagement with said flanges, substantially into therelation illustrated in Fig. 12.

Immediately adjacent and beyond the flanges 9B and 99, I provide aflying folding mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeralI01, and best illustrated in Figs. 2, and 6.

A web comprising integral right-and-lefthand supporting elements H38 andM39 is supported, l l l for reciprocatory 55. The element 198 has an armH2, and the element I09 has an arm H3 integrally joined therewith, saidarms extending into cooperative engagement with the shaft 48, and beingfixed to move axially therewith through the medium of a bearingstructure indicated by the reference numeral H4 in Figs. 2 and 6 andcommon to said arms.

A lever H5 is pivotally mounted at MS upon the supporting element I08and carries, intermediate its ends, aroller II'I positioned forcooperative engagement with the perimetral surface of an ovoid cam H8fixed to the shaft E8. A similar lever H9 is pivotally mounted at I2?!-upon the supporting element I 8'9 and carries a roller l2"! positionedfor cooperative engagement with the perimetral surface'of a similar, butup positely arranged, cam I22, likewise fixed to the shaft 48. A springI23 extends between the levers H5 and H9, urging the lower endsthereoftoward each other, and thereby holding the rollers I I! and I2!resiliently in engagement with their respective cams H8 and I22.

A link I 2 is pivetally connected with the lower end of the lever H5 andthe lower end of. a lever I25 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends atI26 upon the supporting element H33. At its opposite end, the lever I25is provided with a lost motion slot I2? in which engages one end I28 ofa pusher rod I29 mounted for reciprocation in suitable guide meanscarried by the supporting element 25%. Beyond the guide means, there ishingedly connected at Mil tothe end of the rod I29 a presser elementIii! whose distal edge is rolled upwardly and re'arwa'rdly, as at Iii-I,to provide a smooth and substantially frictionless pusher nose.

Similarly, a link I 32 is pivotally connected to the lower end of thelever H9 and to the lower end of a lever I33 pivotally mounted,intermediate its ends, at ltd, upon the supporting element I09. Theupper end of the lever I33 is provided with a lost motion slot I35 inwhich engages one end I-Zfi of a pusher rod I33 mounted for" axialreciprocation in suitable guide means carried by the supporting elementI99. A presser clement I33 is hingedly connected at It! with theoppositeend of the rod I31, and the remote edge of said element I36 isrolled upwardly and rearwardly as at 639' to provide a pusher nosesimilar to the nose IZSi. Springs M2 and M3 resiliently hold the presserelements I32 and I33 normally in their positions illustrated in Fig. 6;

A lever 54% is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, at I :5, uponthe supporting element I539. At one end, said lever carries a roller I16 in cooperative engagement with the perimetral surface of a cam It?fixed to the shaft 58, said cam being provided with a single projectingpip I48.

It will be noted that the apex of the pip M8 is peripherally spaced fromthe high point of cam 553 alittle less than in a clockwise direction andfrom the high point of cam I22 a little more than 90 in acounter-clockwise direction, and that the roller I 415 is substantiallymidway between the rollers II? and IZI which are substan tiallydiametrically opposed, relative to the shaft 43.

A link it! connects the opposite end of the lever I 34 with one end of alever I58, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, at IEI, upon thesupporting member 5539. A block N52 is pivotally supported, at I 53,upon the other end of the lever Its, the connection between said blockand said lever being such as to permit some movement of said blocktoward lever end, and a spring I54 being provided to oppose suchmovement. A spring I55, extending between the lever I44 and an anchorageon the supporting element H39, normally holds lever Hill and block I52in the positions illustrated in Fig. 6.

The relationship between the parts illustrated in Fig. 5' and the camblock 5! is such that, as a carriage comes into registry with thefolding mechanism Iiii, the lateral edges of its supported sheet- Illlbeing-- held in the elevated positions illustrated in Fig. I2; by the"flanges-.98 and. the shaft 48 begins to. move, in. the direction: and'at the velocity of movement of the carriage; and the cams IN and I22engage the. rollers I11 and I21 to swing the levers H5 and" H9 outwardlyabout their pivotal axesv lit. and I210.

Thus, the upperfends'of the levers I25 and I 33 are swung inwardly toproject the rods I29: and I3? similarly inwardly. The noses I3 1. andI39 of the presser members I36: and I387 are thus caused toswing thesheet portions I85" and I06 inwardly. As the cams turn. in acounter-clockwise direction from the positions illustrated in Fig. 6,the pip 'I lfi engagesthe roller M5 to press the block I52 intoengagement with the press'er element noses"I31Iand l'filfbefore the highpoints of the cams I I8 and i122 reach cooperative engagement with therollers I11" and- I2I. Thus; the presser' elementinoses hold the wrapperedges I85 and Veilin engagement with the bacon slices I iifiduri'ng thelatter portion of the inward-movementof'sai'el prcsserele'ments to exerta smoothing-and stretching effect upon said-wrapper edges, thus ensuringa relatively tight-fold at each'edge of'th'e package, and a' smoothengagement of the i'nturned wrapper edges with the bacon. The apexof'the pip i iliileaves the roller Mt to release the block I52 justbefore the presser elements reach their innermost posit-ions, whereuponthe springs M2 and M3 li f-t thepresser elements out ofcontact with. thewrapper edges. Thus, throughout engagement of the presser' elements withthe wrapper edges, said presscrelements are moving-inwardly, and saidpresser elements leave the wrapper edges before their inward movement isarrested. The'wrapp'er edges, of course, adhere to the greasy bacon.

As will be clear from an inspection ot Fig; 6, the folding operation iscompleted and the block 'iiil isl-ifted within the first.quarter-revolution of the shaft 48. Reference to Fig. 2'will show thatduring that quarter-revolution, the shaft 48 and its associated partswill be travelling toward the left; and the parts are so proportionedand 'designed that the velocity of the folder IIIT will be identicalwith that of the carriage 5'6 with which it" currently registers.

During the succeeding quarter-revolution of shaft til, the high pointsof cams I I8 and I22 will retreat from the rollers I IIand' IZ'I topermit the spring I 23 to return the levers Hi5 and IIS, and so the rodsI29 and IS'I, to their starting positions illustrated in Fig. 6. The camgroove 52 is so designed as to eiTect continued travel of the.

folder It! in synchronism with such carriage. substantially throughoutthis period of withdrawal of the rods I28 and I3! in order to guardagainst any possibility of interference between th'e presser members andparts of any carriages. But during the third and fourth quarters of theshaft revolution, while the rollers II T, 52!, and M5 engage lowconcentric regions of their associated cams, that portion of the camgroove 52' not shown in Fig. 2, cooperates with the fixedposition roller53 to reverse the direction ofmovement of the shaft 33 and itsassociated parts, and to return the parts to the starting positionsshown in Fig. 2-.

As the carriage leaves the folding station, the roller "#2" on the armII encounters a stationary cam I555 (see Figs. 2 and 4) suitablysupported between the trackways 3i and the rising surface of said cam,which is followed by the roller I2, causes the flap '5? to be swung, ina counterclockwise direction, suiiiciently to move the roller I4 intoposition for cooperation with a second stationary cam I51. As the rollerI4 follows the rising surface of the cam I51, th counter-clockwise swingof the flap 6'! is completed, to bring the parts into the positionillustrated in Fig. 15, whereby the projecting trailing rear end portionI04 of the sheet is folded forwardly over the rearmost slices of bacon,where said portion will adhere in the manner above-described. At aboutthe moment when the roller I4 reaches the peak of the cam I51, theroller 16 encounters a stationary cam 58; and as said roller follows therising surface of the cam I58 the leaf B8 is swung in acounter-clockwise direction about its hinge axis BI. The cam I58 iscapable of moving the leaf 68 only to the position illustrated in Fig.16. Of course, the roller 14 is lifted off its cam I51 by this action ofthe leaf 60.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, the roller 98,carried by the arm 89, encounters a stationary cam I59 substantially atthe moment when the roller 16 encounter the cam I58. Since the arm 88 isforwardly and downwardly inclined, travel of the roller 98 up theinclined surface of the cam I59 will swing the leaf 83 in a clockwisedirection about its hinge axis 84. Coaction between the roller 98 andthe cam I59 swings the leaf 83 far enough to bring the roller 92, on thearm 9I, into position I to encounter, cooperatively, a stationary camI88; and as the roller 92 rides up the cam surface I60, the leaf 83 isswung in a clockwise direction as illustrated at the righthand end ofFig. 3. Now, the parts occupy substantially the positions illustrated inFig. 16. It is to be noted that the two leaves 60 and 83 movesubstantially simultaneously from the positions of Fig. to the positionsof Fig. 16, so that each leaf acts as an abutment preventing bodilyshifting of the bacon batch I89 under the influence of the foldingaction of the companion leaf.

Now, while the uppermost plateau of the cam I58 coacts with the rollerI6 to hold the leaf 60 in the position illustrated in Fig. 16, theroller 94 on the arm 93 encounters a stationary cam I5!, and as saidroller follows said cam, the folding action of the leaf 83 is completed,the parts being brought into the positions illustrated in Fig. 17,whereby substantially the leading onethird of the bacon package isfolded over into superposition upon the middle one-third of the batch.

Now, as the carriage continues to travel, the roller 94 leaves the camNH, and the spring 95 returns the leaf 83 toward its starting position,until the roller 92 encounters the descending cam section I64.Substantially simultaneously, the roller '18, on the arm I1, encountersan ascending cam surface I33 so that, as the leaf 83 moves in acounter-clockwise direction, the leaf 68 also moves in acounter-clockwise direction, tending to fold the trailing one-third ofthe bacon package into superposed relation to the folded, leadingone-third. It is to be noted that, as this folding action begins, theleaf 83 and tray 85 act as an abutment to prevent bodily shifting of thepackage under the influence of such movement of the leaf 69; and, as thetray 85 leaves contact with the package, the fingers 81 continue to actas an abutment. As the roller I8 rides the surface I63, the roller 88 isbrought into position to encounter, cooperatively, a risin stationarycam I 65; and the coaction between said roller 88 and cam I65 completesthe folding of the trailing portion of the package, bringing the partsinto the positions illustrated in Fig. 19. The roller then descends thecam surface I65 to bring the roller I8 into cooperative relation withthe descending cam I61, while the roller 92 descends the cam I88,whereby the parts are returned to starting relation at the discharge endof the machine. The fingers 87 still abut the package I89, in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 20, and the package may be removed from the machinein any desired way, or may be permitted to drop from the carriage as thearriage passes around the sprocket 34.

The provision of the trays 62 and 85, together with resilient meanstending to hold them spaced from the adjacent sections of leaves 69 and83, is quite important aside from the fact that they establish abutmentsholding the bacon batch against undesired movement during thebatchfolding operations. Bacon batches of the type here underconsideration will vary somewhat in thickness in a direction normal tthe wrapper #85. While that variation is not numerically large, it willbe seen that, at the station illustrated in Fig. 17, the effect of thevariation will be doubled, while at the station illustrated in Fig. 19,that effect will be tripled. The spring-pressed trays. provide for theexertion of a standard degree of pressure upon the folded batch, whetheror not the urrent batch is of the maximum thickness which the machine iscapable of handling, as illustrated in the drawings.

Preferably, relatively heavy frame plates I69 and I10 will be providedfor supporting the folding mechanism Iill, its shaft 48, and its rodsIII] and III.

I claim as my invention:

1. A package folding machine comprising a guided conveyor, a pluralityof carriages serially associated with said conveyor to move therewith,each of said carriages comprising a table, a leaf hingedly associatedwith the leading edge of said table, a second leaf hingedly associatedwith the trailing edge of said table, a flap hingedly associated withthe trailing edge of said second leaf, follower means associated withsaid flap; a first cam means associated in the path of said followermeans and operable, when engaged by said follower means, to swing saidflap upwardly and forwardly into substantial engagement with said secondleaf, a second follower means associated with said second leaf, a secondcam means disposed in the path of said second follower means andoperable, when engaged by said second follower means, to swing saidsecond leaf upwardly relative to said table, a third follower meansassociated with said first leaf, a third cam means disposed in the pathof said third follower means and cngageable thereby substantiallyconcurrently with engagement of said second follower means with saidsecond cam means, said third cam means coasting with said third followermeans to swing said first leaf upwardly relative to said table, a fourthfollower means associated with said first leaf, a fourth cam meansdisposed in the path occupied by said fourth follower means after suchswinging movement of said first leaf, said fourth cam means coactingwith said fourth follower means to swing said first leaf rearwardly anddownwardly into overlapping substantially parallel relation with saidtable, and then to release said follower means, a fifth follower meansassociated with said second leaf, a fifth cam means disposed in the pathof said fifth follower means and coactive therewith, after relea e 0!said fourth follower means, to swing said second leaf forwardly anddownwardly into overlapping substantially parallel relation with saidtable, and means active thereafter to return said leaves to positionslocated, respectively, wholly in advance of and behind said table.

2. For use in a wrapping and folding machine, a carriage comprising atable, a front leaf hinged to the front edge of said table, a rear leafhinged to the rear edge of said table, a flap hinged to the rear edge ofsaid rear leaf, and a plurality of cam-followers projecting from each ofsaid hinged elements at various angles.

3. The carriage of claim 2 including spring means for each of saidhinged elements resiliently tending to hold each element in apredetermined relation to the element from which it is supported.

4. The carriage of claim 2 in which each leaf is substantially L-shapedin section transverse to its hinge axis.

5. For use in a wrapping and folding machine, a carriage comprising atable providing a substantially horizontal, upwardly-presented surface,a front leaf hinged to said table at the front edge of said surface, arear leaf hinged to said table at the rear edge of said surface, each ofsaid leaves including a portion adjacent said surface normally inclineddownwardly and away from said surface and a distal surface inclined up-3() wardly and away from said surface, a tray for each of said leaveshinged to the distal edge of its leaf and projecting toward said table,and

resilient means supporting the free edge of each of said trays.

6. The carriage of claim 5 in which the free edge of the tray associatedwith said front leaf is provided with abutment means disposed closelyadjacent the front edge of said table, and in which the resilient meansfor said tray normally supports said tray edge at an elevation abovesaid surface.

7. The carriage of claim 6 in which said abutment means comprises aplurality of transverselyspaced straps depending from said tray edge.

8. Th carriage of claim 7 in which said straps are rigid and in whicheach strap passes through a slot in said front leaf.

9. The carriage of claim 8 in which each strap is curved upon an arcconcentric with the hinge axis of said tray.

10. The carriage of claim 5 including a flap hinged to the distal edgeof said rear leaf and normally inclined upwardly and away from saidsurface.

ALFRED C. GANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,521,577September 5, 1950 ALFRED C. GANNON It is hereby certified that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 47, for the Word associated read disposed;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice. 1

Signed and sealed this 14th day of November, D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssz'omr of Patents.

